YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community


Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member!

Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us.

Go Back   YorkieTalk.com Forums - Yorkshire Terrier Community > YorkieTalk > General Yorkshire Terrier Discussion
Register Blogs FAQ Calendar JavaChat Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools
Old 09-19-2007, 06:11 PM   #1
Yorkie Talker
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Posts: 10
Default Advice for a first time yorkie buyer

Hi everyone,

I am thinking about getting a yorkie as a first pet. I am really excited, yet nervous at the same time. I've been around yorkies before and I absolutely love them. Can you guys give me any tips or suggestions for a first time buyer? I want to make sure I am making the right decision and am doing as much research I can as a first time buyer.

For example:
1. how often do you have to take your dog to the vet
2. how much time do you need to spend with your dog? I go to school about 5 hours a day, is it ok to leave it at home for that time?
3. how much should i expect to spend on my puppy? how much do vet bills cost?
4. How often do they need to get shots?

..and anything else you guys think I should know!!


Thanks so much!
chrissystar is offline   Reply With Quote
Welcome Guest!
Not Registered?

Join today and remove this ad!

Old 09-19-2007, 06:25 PM   #2
Donating YT 500 Club Member
 
Winstin07's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Posts: 513
Default

Good Luck on finding your puppy. I bet the first thing you will be told here is buy from a reputable breeder. If that is to expensive then you can always rescue one. Winstin is almost done with his shots and he has went to vet every few weeks. It has cost me around $70.00 every time. Once he is done he will only go once a year (I think) unless something is wrong with him. I am happy to see you are doing your research. A book I bought was on Yorkie's and it is by the AKC it has a lot of good info in it. Five hours is a bit long to be left alone at first. Maybe someone could puppy sit until the Yorkie is older.
Best of Luck,
Jen
__________________
With God ALL Things are Possible!!

I can never again imagine my life without my little Yorkie friend.
Winstin07 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 06:59 PM   #3
Donating YT 10K Club Member
 
MyFairLacy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: DFW, Texas
Posts: 11,003
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissystar View Post
Hi everyone,

I am thinking about getting a yorkie as a first pet. I am really excited, yet nervous at the same time. I've been around yorkies before and I absolutely love them. Can you guys give me any tips or suggestions for a first time buyer? I want to make sure I am making the right decision and am doing as much research I can as a first time buyer.

For example:
1. how often do you have to take your dog to the vet
2. how much time do you need to spend with your dog? I go to school about 5 hours a day, is it ok to leave it at home for that time?
3. how much should i expect to spend on my puppy? how much do vet bills cost?
4. How often do they need to get shots?

..and anything else you guys think I should know!!


Thanks so much!
First of all, Yorkies are the best! And Its great you are doing your research first.

1. As a puppy, you'll want to take it to the vet for a check-up as soon as you bring it home just to make sure everything is okay. Your breeder should have a time-window for you to get your baby a checkup to make sure its not going home to you with any health problems. Then you'll need to take it until all vaccination are given. Then once a year for a checkup and any needed vaccinations. And sometimes in between if it gets sick.

2. I spend as much time as I can with Lacy. I was working full time and got to take her to work with me everyday so I used to be with her pretty much 24/7, but now I'm in vet school and away from her a lot. I come home at lunch every day to let her potty so she's not at home longer than 5 hours at a time. If you're going to be gone for five hours, make sure you don't bring the puppy home too early - 12 weeks or older would be ideal. That way you shouldn't have to be so concerned with hypoglycemia and it should have some bladder control by then. I would get an x-pen and put a bed in there and food and water and safe toys and a potty pad if you want to pad train, at least until the puppy is old enough to hold it five hours.

3. Vet bills vary from vet to vet. I would expect anywhere from $30-$50 for just an office visit and exam. I usually plan for $100-$150 everytime I have to go in for Lacy's yearly exam, heartworm test, and vaccinations. There are also food costs, toys, crate or x-pen, bowls, harness and leash, etc. And you want to make sure you've got some money saved up in case of an emergency.

4. Puppies are reccommended to get vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16 weeks although some vets do it differently. A lot do 6, 9, 12, 16 weeks so it just depends on your vet.
__________________
~Magnifique Yorkies~
Purchasing from backyard breeders, pet shops, and puppymills perpetuates the suffering of other dogs.
Educate yourself and buy from reputable breeders or rescue.
MyFairLacy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 07:07 PM   #4
Yorkie Talker
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Posts: 10
Default

Thank you! I didnt know that puppy shots are that frequent.. is that forever? Also, when a buyer posts that the puppy "has all shots" what does that mean? When will it be before the puppy doesnt need shots anymore?

I plan on coming home at lunch time and during my class breaks to let him out. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I really want this.

Also, do you guys find that you have to wake up a lot in the middle of the night to take out the puppy?
chrissystar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 08:34 PM   #5
Donating YT 500 Club Member
 
Winstin07's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Posts: 513
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissystar View Post
Thank you! I didnt know that puppy shots are that frequent.. is that forever? Also, when a buyer posts that the puppy "has all shots" what does that mean? When will it be before the puppy doesnt need shots anymore?

I plan on coming home at lunch time and during my class breaks to let him out. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I really want this.

Also, do you guys find that you have to wake up a lot in the middle of the night to take out the puppy?
Shots are only that often for first 16 weeks or so. Then its yearly. Winstin does not get up much in the night. He usually sleeps six or seven hours at night. I pick up his water about an hour or two before bed and that helps.
If person says puppy has all shots that can mean that the shots are up to date but not completed. (depending on how many weeks old the puppy is) If it is older than 16 weeks then the shots may be totally done for the year. Shoyts go on age just like MyFairLacy said above.
__________________
With God ALL Things are Possible!!

I can never again imagine my life without my little Yorkie friend.
Winstin07 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 09:21 PM   #6
Donating YT 1000 Club Member
 
Lorraine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Abbotsford, BC
Posts: 2,060
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissystar View Post
Thank you! I didnt know that puppy shots are that frequent.. is that forever? Also, when a buyer posts that the puppy "has all shots" what does that mean? When will it be before the puppy doesnt need shots anymore?

I plan on coming home at lunch time and during my class breaks to let him out. I know it's going to be a lot of work, but I really want this.

Also, do you guys find that you have to wake up a lot in the middle of the night to take out the puppy?
Have you considered life after you are done schooling? Where would you work? How many hours per day? where would you live can you be sure to find a place to live that will allow a pet?
A commitment for any dog is about 12 - 15 years. I see many end up looking for new homes because of new locations, new jobs that were too demanding to also have dog, long hours for work and socializing.
Having a young puppy around is like having a baby around. I have helped people place a new pup after only having it a week as no one was getting any sleep. No, not one I sold, the seller asked little or no questions and buyer didn't know questions to be asked.
You can visit my website at www.loribenyorkys.com and read About yorkies and Puppy Enquiries. There is a lot of info there for you.
No, none of mine are for sale on the Internet at anytime. I don't have anything anyway for sale.
__________________
Lorraine
www.loribenyorkies.com
Canada
Lorraine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 09:48 PM   #7
Donating YT 3000 Club Member
 
For My Coby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,139
Default

You're getting great advice, and good for you for getting your questions ready BEFORE bringing a baby home!!

Don't forget the potty training itself. That takes a lot of work, a lot of time, and a lot of patience for a few (several) months. Make sure you're ready for that, because a Yorkie (or any dog really) is only as well potty-trained as the effort that we put into it. But for some months of work, you'll get years of freedom!!

Good Luck!!
__________________
Diane, and my boys ..... Coby and Reggie !!
Striving to be a YTPP - a YT Positive Poster!
In Memory of My Beautiful Mother 7/22/28-8/27/08
For My Coby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 10:09 PM   #8
Yorkie Talker
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: FL
Posts: 10
Cry

Thanks everyone..

after reading all this, I've decided that I may not have the time for a puppy. I think about it constantly and have been doing so much research into it. But I guess it may be unfair for the puppy if I can't spend as much time as I should be with it.

I'm currently going through optometry school and spend at least 5 hours a day in class (with breaks that I could come home to take out the puppy). But I am just afraid I won't have the time to potty train it at the beginning, etc.

So how does everyone do it? I am sure everyone has a full time job and lives and children to take care of. Where did you find this time to potty train your dog, take it out for a pee.. etc?

I am definitely willing to put time into a puppy. But it sounds like its a lot more than I can even offer!

This is making me sad because i want a yorkie SOOO badly!
chrissystar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-19-2007, 10:21 PM   #9
Donating YT 3000 Club Member
 
For My Coby's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 4,139
Default

I don't know whether to encourage you or congratulate you on your wisdom!! I have a full time job in management, so there are extra hours. I did wait to get a Yorkie until my kids were older, because I knew that Yorkies did take extra time. But when I researched for a dog when the kids were young, we ended up with a Shi Tzu because they acclimate better to the family instead of the family acclimating to the dog.

Yorkies do take extra time, BUT they are worth it. Wait and see what other responses you get to your thread. There is a lot of wisdom and support here. And if you do decide the time isn't quite right, you can always hang around here and share our Yorkies!!
__________________
Diane, and my boys ..... Coby and Reggie !!
Striving to be a YTPP - a YT Positive Poster!
In Memory of My Beautiful Mother 7/22/28-8/27/08
For My Coby is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2007, 03:16 AM   #10
Donating YT 500 Club Member
 
Winstin07's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Posts: 513
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by chrissystar View Post
Thanks everyone..

after reading all this, I've decided that I may not have the time for a puppy. I think about it constantly and have been doing so much research into it. But I guess it may be unfair for the puppy if I can't spend as much time as I should be with it.

I'm currently going through optometry school and spend at least 5 hours a day in class (with breaks that I could come home to take out the puppy). But I am just afraid I won't have the time to potty train it at the beginning, etc.

So how does everyone do it? I am sure everyone has a full time job and lives and children to take care of. Where did you find this time to potty train your dog, take it out for a pee.. etc?

I am definitely willing to put time into a puppy. But it sounds like its a lot more than I can even offer!

This is making me sad because i want a yorkie SOOO badly!
Here is my experience with potty training. With my first dog (lab) I worked at a daycare and did not have a lot of time. I crate trained her and she did ok . She learned really quick how to hold it. Plus my husband worked/works a swing shift and at most, unless overtime, only works three days in a row . When my second dog (golden) came into our home I was running a daycare and could leave when I needed to let her out every so often. We could not crate her at all because she would pee before we got her to the door of the crate. Now that Winstin is here, I run my own small business and he can go almost everywhere with me. I take him out every hour or two. Potty training is time consuming but worth it. Some on here have trained their dogs to use pee pads and even litter boxes. That may be an idea for you. Five hours is not bad to be away since you have breaks. If you are willing to put the time into it, then I would not be so quick to say you do not want one yet. I agree with for For My Coby, wait and see what others say.
Research is great but can also make things over whelming. If you get a Yorkie you just have to keep him/her in mind as you start making the rest of your choices in life. Once you get through the puppy stage its not bad at all, at least thats my experience so far.
__________________
With God ALL Things are Possible!!

I can never again imagine my life without my little Yorkie friend.

Last edited by Winstin07; 09-20-2007 at 03:17 AM.
Winstin07 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-20-2007, 03:41 AM   #11
Donating YT Addict
 
remus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: NYC
Posts: 586
Default

Yorkies are the best!!! Have nodoubt about it.

First, buy only from a breeder. And look at more than one puppy, look around to see whos out there.
Also, you will know when the puppy is yours, in a way it will pick you.
Dont depend on the warranty, or dont think you will bring the puppy back once you get him, unless you have no heart. I would never be able to do it.

Yorkies are great companions, love to play and cuddle and just be monkeys from time to time. But they have lots of character and be to themselves at times as well.

This will be you best pruchase made so far, so good luck.

Oh and dont spend more than $1000.
remus is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks



Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are Off




Google
 

SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:52 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Copyright ©2003 - 2018 YorkieTalk.com
Privacy Policy - Terms of Use

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 399 400 401 402 403 404 405 406 407 408 409 410 411 412 413 414 415 416 417 418 419 420 421 422 423 424 425 426 427 428 429 430 431 432 433 434 435 436 437 438 439 440 441 442 443 444 445 446 447 448 449 450 451 452 453 454 455 456 457 458 459 460 461 462 463 464 465 466 467 468 469 470 471 472 473 474 475 476 477 478 479 480 481 482 483 484 485 486 487 488 489 490 491 492 493 494 495 496 497 498 499 500 501 502 503 504 505 506 507 508 509 510 511 512 513 514 515 516 517 518 519 520 521 522 523 524 525 526 527 528 529 530 531 532 533 534 535 536 537 538 539 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 551 552 553 554 555 556 557 558 559 560 561 562 563 564 565 566 567 568 569 570 571 572 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 580 581 582 583 584 585 586 587 588 589 590 591 592 593 594 595 596 597 598 599 600 601 602 603 604 605 606 607 608 609 610 611 612 613 614 615 616 617 618 619 620 621 622 623 624 625 626 627 628 629 630 631 632 633 634 635 636 637 638 639 640 641 642 643 644 645 646 647 648 649 650 651 652 653 654 655 656 657 658 659 660 661 662 663 664 665 666 667 668 669 670 671 672 673 674 675 676 677 678 679 680 681 682 683 684 685 686 687 688 689 690 691 692 693 694 695 696 697 698 699 700 701 702 703 704 705 706 707 708 709 710 711 712 713 714 715 716 717 718 719 720 721 722 723 724 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 734 735 736 737 738 739 740 741 742 743 744 745 746 747 748 749 750 751 752 753 754 755 756 757 758 759 760 761 762 763 764 765 766 767 768 769 770 771 772 773 774 775 776 777 778 779 780 781 782 783 784 785 786 787 788 789 790 791 792 793 794 795 796 797 798 799 800 801 802 803 804 805 806 807 808 809 810 811 812 813 814 815 816 817 818 819 820 821 822 823 824 825 826 827 828 829 830 831 832 833 834 835 836 837 838 839 840 841 842 843 844 845 846 847 848 849 850 851 852 853 854 855 856 857 858 859 860 861 862 863 864 865 866 867 868 869 870 871 872 873 874 875 876 877 878 879 880 881 882 883 884 885 886 887 888 889 890 891 892 893 894 895 896 897 898 899 900 901 902 903 904 905 906 907 908 909 910 911 912 913 914 915 916 917 918 919 920 921 922 923 924 925 926 927 928 929 930 931 932 933 934 935 936 937 938 939 940 941 942 943 944 945 946 947 948 949 950 951 952 953 954 955 956 957 958 959 960 961 962 963 964 965 966 967 968 969 970 971 972 973 974 975 976 977 978 979 980 981 982 983 984 985 986 987 988 989 990 991 992 993 994 995 996 997 998 999 1000 1001 1002 1003 1004 1005 1006 1007 1008 1009 1010 1011 1012 1013 1014 1015 1016 1017 1018 1019 1020 1021 1022 1023 1024 1025 1026 1027 1028 1029 1030 1031 1032 1033 1034 1035 1036 1037 1038 1039 1040 1041 1042 1043 1044 1045 1046 1047 1048 1049 1050 1051 1052 1053 1054 1055 1056 1057 1058 1059 1060 1061 1062 1063 1064 1065 1066 1067 1068 1069 1070 1071 1072 1073 1074 1075 1076 1077 1078 1079 1080 1081 1082 1083 1084 1085 1086 1087 1088 1089 1090 1091 1092 1093 1094 1095 1096 1097 1098 1099 1100 1101 1102 1103 1104 1105 1106 1107 1108 1109 1110 1111 1112 1113 1114 1115 1116 1117 1118 1119 1120 1121 1122 1123 1124 1125 1126 1127 1128 1129 1130 1131 1132 1133 1134 1135 1136 1137 1138 1139 1140 1141 1142 1143 1144 1145 1146 1147 1148 1149 1150 1151 1152 1153 1154 1155 1156 1157 1158 1159 1160 1161 1162 1163 1164 1165 1166 1167